Eli stopped in at the end of the meal. He said hello to Tia as he grabbed a paper plate and piled it high with pancakes, eggs and bacon, but he treated her just like everyone else. That Seth and his family didn’t make her the focal point of every conversation and hadn’t even brought up the movie or her accident made her feel like an average person—like she was one of them—and that was a nice reprieve.

By the time Eli and Gavin rushed out to return to the school, Tia had all but forgotten about her lost career, her scars, Kouretas being in town—even the fact that she’d slept with Seth last night—until after she’d helped Aiyana with the dishes and went into the living room, where Seth was chatting with his brother and sister-in-law. Although they’d offered to help clean up, too, Aiyana had shooed them out, allowing only Tia to stay with her, which made Tia feel even more at home. She could tell Aiyana was keeping her close whenever possible.

Seth glanced up when she approached the three of them and asked if she wanted to sit down, but as soon as she accepted his invitation, she caught sight of the pictures on the mantel. Front and center was an eight-by-ten of Seth and Shiloh at their wedding, smiling happily for the camera: two gorgeous people who looked totally happy and absolutely in love.

That was when she realized, as relaxed and welcome as she’d begun to feel, she’d been right in the beginning—she didn’t belong here.

“You’re quiet,” Seth said as they drove back to Maxi’s.

“I’m tired. You woke me up this morning, remember?”

He chuckled. “It was almost noon.”

“I know. I’m joking.”

She didn’t reference the fact that he’d kept her up most of the night. He wondered what she was thinking about that. He hadn’t let himself think about it too much. It made him feel disloyal to Shiloh, but he’d be lying to himself if he tried to say he didn’t enjoy it. “Brunch seemed to go okay.”

She kept staring out the window. “Brunch was great. You have a wonderful family, and they obviously love you very much.”

It was starting to rain. Fat drops hit the windshield with a solid splat. “Then...what is it?”

He saw her chest lift as she drew a deep breath. “Nothing,” she said. “I need to plan out a new life, so I’m just trying to do that.”

“What do you think you’ll do?”

“I’d like to stay in the movie industry. I can’t help how much I love it. I’ve spent my whole life dreaming of being an actress. So...maybe I’ll become a director.”

He switched on the wipers. “Is that feasible? What would it entail?”